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Are you curious about how local moves and long-distance moves differ? While they both involve excitement, planning, and packing, they also have several key differences.

Understanding the way that local and long-distance moves can be different is essential if you have a relocation coming up. Taking the time to learn about the differences between local and long-distance relocations will help get you on track toward a safe, successful, and stress-free relocation. Below is our ultimate guide to helping you understand the differences between local and long-distance relocations.

Understanding Mileage Differences

The first, and most obvious, difference between local and long-distance moves is the mileage considerations. Local moves are generally considered moves that are 50-100 miles away, while anything upward of 100 miles is usually considered a long-distance move. Moving to a new state (interstate moving) also falls into the long-distance moving category.

Cost Differences Between Local Moves Versus Long-Distance Ones

As you can probably imagine, long-distance moves use more resources than local ones and are usually more labor-intensive. Therefore, you can expect to pay more for a long-distance move than you might for a local one. Important things to understand about costs for local versus long-distance moves include:

  • Local Moves: Because local moves use less resources, time, and labor, they are generally less expensive than long-distance moves. For a local move, you can expect to be charged by the hour. A local relocation will probably take about 3-5 hours. On average, a local move will run you about $1,400.
  • Long-Distance Moves: Long-distance moves are calculated based on the weight of your items and the mileage of your relocation. On average, a long-distance move will cost about $3,500.

Differences in Planning and Logistics

The way that you plan for a long-distance move will also be different than the way that you plan for a local one. While both types of moves involve similar tasks, including booking a team of professional movers, packing, and coordinating travel arrangements, you should start managing the logistics of a long-distance move sooner than you may for a local one. For example, we recommend booking a moving company about 6-12 weeks in advance for a long-distance move while you only need to do this about 4-8 weeks in advance for a local move.

Learn More About How We Can Help with Your Local or Long-Distance Move

We hope that this information will help you enjoy a stress-free moving day. If you need a skilled Sioux Falls professional moving company to help with your next move, Brouwer Relocation would be delighted to assist. We offer full-service local and long-distance moving services, along with personalized service, free estimates, and full-service moving options.

As one of the top Sioux Falls moving and storage companies, we are proud to be a leading provider of comprehensive moving solutions to our community. We boast a BBB accreditation with an A rating and the respect of thousands of past customers. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your relocation and to get started with a free quote.